Easy to adhere sound absoring mat with fluffy outer layer

ABSTRACT

A sound absorbing mat includes a substrate having a first face and a second face. The first face of the substrate includes a number of fluffs provided thereon. The fluffs and the substrate are commonly formed from a predetermined material. The first face of the substrate is processed by a cutter to directly form the fluffs thereon. A layer of adhesive is applied to the second face of the substrate. A peelable sheet is releasably attached to the layer of adhesive.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This is a continuation-in-part application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/395,744 filed on Sep. 14, 1999, which is nowabandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] 1. Field of the Invention

[0003] The present invention relates to an easy to adhere soundabsorbing mat with fluffy outer layer for effectively absorbing sound.

[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0005] Sound absorbent plays a certain roll in modern world. Taking avehicle as an example, the driver and/or passengers in a vehicle may bedisturbed by the engine noise. The engine noise problem is aggravatedwhen the vehicle has been used for years. U.S. Pat. No. 6,021,740 toMartz issued on Feb. 8, 2000 discloses a wheeled animal carrier having acushioned sound absorbing liner, wherein the liner is removably attachedto a tray by a plurality of separable hook and eye Velcro elements. Thesound absorbing effect was found unsatisfactory. Japanese PatentPublication No. JP 357085874 of Kurono et al. discloses a soundabsorbing mat (sound deadening tying tape) comprising fluffs formed on aside of the substrate of the sound absorbing tape, wherein the fluffsare formed by bonding a pressure-sensitive adhesive layer and thenpeeling it. The fluffs thus formed are not evenly distributed, as theforce applied to peel the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer could not becontrolled evenly. As a result, the sound-absorbing effect of the soundabsorbing tape disclosed in JP 357085874 would not be even and perfect.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is a primary object of the present invention to provide aneasy to adhere sound absorbing mat with fluffy outer layer foreffectively absorbing sound.

[0007] A sound absorbent in accordance with the present inventionincludes a substrate having a first face and a second face. The firstface of the substrate includes a number of fluffs provided thereon. Thefluffs and the substrate are commonly formed from a predeterminedmaterial. The first face of the substrate is processed by a cutter todirectly form the fluffs thereon. A layer of adhesive is applied to thesecond face of the substrate. A peelable sheet is releasably attached tothe layer of adhesive. Thus, the fluffs and the substrate of the soundabsorbing mate of the present invention are commonly formed from apredetermined material and the substrate is processed by a cutter whichwill assure even distribution of the fluffs and perfect sound absorbingeffect.

[0008] Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the inventionwill become more apparent from the following detailed description whentaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sound absorbing mat inaccordance with the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a sound source and the soundabsorbing mat in accordance with the present invention.

[0011]FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating thesound-absorbing effect of the sound absorbing mat in accordance with thepresent invention.

[0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the sound absorbing mat coiled foreasy carriage.

[0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cutter for forming fluffs on aside of the sound absorbing mat in accordance with the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a sound absorbing mat 1 in accordancewith the present invention is made from nylon or polyester and includesa substrate 12 having a first face 11 and a second face 13. The firstface 11 of the sound absorbent 1 is processed by a special comb-likecutter 20 (FIG. 5) to form a plurality of fluffs 14 thereon. A layer ofadhesive 2 may be applied to the second face 13 of the substrate 12. Apeelable sheet 3 is then applied to the adhesive layer 2.

[0015] The sound absorbing 1 of the invention can be coiled for easycarriage, as shown in FIG. 4. When in use, the sound absorbing mat iscut by the required length and the peelable sheet 3 is peeled. Thus, theuser may adhere the sound absorbing mat to any desired place, e.g., aninner periphery of an engine hood that houses the engine of a vehicle.The sound from a sound source 4 (e.g., the engine of the vehicle) iseffectively absorbed by the fluffs 14 on the first face 11 of thesubstrate 2, best shown in FIG. 3. More specifically, sound wavesentering the jungle-like fluffs on a side of the sound absorbing mat ofthe present invention will be reflected for a plurality of times andfinally lost in the jungle. The energy of the sound waves is thusgradually absorbed at each reflection, and the sound vanisheseventually. It is noted that the fluffs and the substrate of the soundabsorbing mate of the present invention are commonly formed from apredetermined material and the substrate is processed by the cutter 20(FIG. 5) which will assure even distribution of the fluffs and perfectsound absorbing effect.

[0016] It is appreciated that the sound absorbing mat of the inventioncan be applied to any place where sound absorption is required.

[0017] Although the invention has been explained in relation to itspreferred embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sound absorbing mat comprising a substratehaving a first face and a second face, the first face of the substrateincluding a plurality of fluffs provided thereon, the fluffs and thesubstrate being commonly formed from a predetermined material, and thefirst face of the substrate being processed by a cutter to directly formthe fluffs thereon.
 2. The sound absorbing mat as claimed in claim 1 ,further comprising a layer of adhesive applied to the second face of thesubstrate.
 3. The sound absorbing mat as claimed in claim 2 , furthercomprising a peelable sheet releasably attached to the layer ofadhesive.